Betanews runs a story about Nullsoft, the creators of Winamp. While the current internet advertising market is not very profitable anymore Nullsoft is considering to ask money for an advanced version of Winamp.
Winamp has always been available for free and Nullsoft has been pretty clear about it, there will also always be a free version available !
In a poll recently posted on its Web site, Nullsoft queried visitors on whether they would pay a small fee for an enhanced version of Winamp3 with added features such as CD burning, MP3 encoding, and DVD playback. While the development team would like to offer such functionality as certain competitors do, licensing fees would make it cost prohibitive for a company that is struggling to establish its worth. |
Nullsoft is looking to create other avenues of revenue, including subscription-based customized radio stations utilizing its SHOUTcast technology for streaming audio. Winamp3's free form skinning could additionally open the door to partners looking for a custom-designed media player, a service Microsoft has capitalized upon with Windows Media Player.
Down which path Nullsoft decides to travel will largely depend on AOL - a conglomerate that does not approve of hasty decisions. While visitor response to the proposal has been mixed, the majority say they are simply happy with Winamp as it is. But fans can rest easy, for whether or not the additions see the light of day, Nullsoft is clear on one point: Winamp will eternally remain free.
In the current internet market it is indeed hard to survive, also we struggle hard to keep the site up and running. I think it's time for internet users to understand that some things have to be paid for. If it's worth the money that is...
Source: Betanews.com
